Trolley harp or fork.



No. 708,048. Patented Sept. 2, I902. 0. P. JOHNSON &. F. P. CROCKETT.

TBOLLEY- HARP on FORK.

2 Sl 1eetsSheet 2.

(Application filed Apr. 28, 1900.)

(No Model.)

Witgesss:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OSRO PRENTISS JOHNSON AND FRED P. CROOKETT, OF KALAMAZOO,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORS TO THE STAR BRASS WORKS, OF KALAMA- ZOO, MICHIGAN.

TROLLEY HARP OR FORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,048, dated September 2, 1902.

Application filed April 28, 1900. Serial No. 14,771. (No model.) 7

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that we, OSRO PRENTISS J OHN- soN and FRED P. ORooKErT, citizens ofthe United States, residing at the city of Kalamazoo, in the county of Kalamazoo and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trolley Harps or Forks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in trolley harps or forks.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide an improved contact device or spring for use in this connection; second, to provide an improved contact device for use in connection with a trolley-harp, whereby a sufficient surface is certain to be contacted to deliver the current without unnecessary resistance; third, to provide a structure of the harp in connection with the spring whereby the spring will be protected frornany rubbing contact either on the trolley-wheel or on the trolley-wire in case the wheel for any reason becomes disengaged and is thrown upward by the spring appliances for causing such upward pressure; fourth, to provide a construction of trolley-harp which has no angular projections to engage either the trolley-wire or cross-wires in case it becomes accidentally thrown from the trolley-wire.

Further objects will definitely appear in the detailed description to follow.

We accomplish the objects of our invention by the devices and means described in this specification.

The invention is clearly defined, and pointed out in the claims.

A structure fully embodying the features of our invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trolleyharp embodying the features of our invention. Fig. 2is a-front'or rear velevation of the harp. Fig. 3 isa verticalsectional elevation taken on a line corresponding to line 3 3 of Fig. 1 with'a trolley-wheel in position, a portion of which is broken away. Fig. lis a detail perspective view of the contactspring. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the contact-washer for use in connection with the said spring.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, Arepresents the body of the harp or fork, which is made hollow and has side plates extending up to each side, the side plates tapering up toward the top and the whole being rounded at the lower portion. The side plates are strengthened by ribs A A at each edge and are perforated near the center to accommodate the contact-springs B. A seat is formed on the outside to receive the lower end of the contact-spring B, and the upper end extends upwardly between the inside of each plate at each side. The spring is fulcrn'med on the inner side of the side plates as; it passes through the openings therein, and thus the strain is taken from the rivets and the strength anddurability of the spring is greatly increased. The spring is divided to embrace the pin 0, on which the trolley wheel is carried at the upper end. Ribs A A are to each side of the spring to prevent it coming accidentally into contact with the trolley-wire and also to afford additional strength to the harp at this point. A space is formed by the extension of these ribs for the reception of a cotter-pin, which retains the journal-pin O, on which the trolley-wheel revolves. The tendency of the spring is to press inwardly, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and washers B B are within the springs to be pressed into close contact with the hub D of the trolley-wheel D. The perforations in the springs for the journal-pin are preferably slightly oblong, which prevents binding on the journal-pin should the forks become sprung or .bent or the spring itself kinked or disarranged. Thedividing of the spring also prevents binding. A The upper end of the spring B being divided will of necessity contact with the washer B at each side, thus offering double the contact-surface that is secured by the usual construction of perforated springs in this position. The washer B is provided with a projecting portion e, which is preferably turned inward from the outer portion to engage between the forked sides of the contact-spring, so that its rotation is prevented.

Having thus described our improved trolleyharp, we desire to state that it can be considerably varied in its details without departing from our invention. While the particular arrangement of the springs and their connection to the harp insures their protection from every injury from without and within, we desire to state that the feature of dividing the upper end of the spring and preventing the rotation of the washer at that point insures a full and complete contact with any style of connection with which the spring may be used. While we show a harp ribbed to protect the different parts, we are aware that the other features might be used independent of such ribbing of the harp itself. We further desire to state that in place of the harp being made of a single piece, as shown, it may be made of several parts riveted or secured together, which is sometimes the practice in these devices, though we believe our construction to possess advantages in all of these difierent particulars enumerated.

. Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination of the harp A divided into forks above, being suitably ribbed at A, A to protect the parts; a journal-pin C retained within the harp by suitable means; a spring B secured to the outside of said harp and extending upwardly through suitable apertures in the same within the forks above and being formed forked at its upper end to l embrace the pin 0; and a contact-washer B with a projecting portion 6' to engage within the forks of the spring, all coacting substantially as described for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the harp A divided into forks above; a journal-pin extending through said forks to carry the trolley-wheel; a spring secured to said harp and extending upwardly inside of the fork, being forked at its upper end to embrace the said pin; and a washer with a suitable projection to engage between the forks of the spring and to contact with the side of the trolley-wheel, coacting for the purpose specified.

3. In a contact device for trolley-harps, a spring forked at its upper end, and a washer having suitable projections to engage between the forks of said spring to contact with a trolley-wheel, for the purpose specified.

4. A trolley-harp divided into forks above; a spring-brush forked at its upper end; and a washer, having a suitable projection to engage between the forks of the said springbrush to contact with a trolley-wheel, coacting for the purpose specified.

5. The combination of a harp divided into forks above; a spring secured to the outside of said harp and extending upwardly through suitable apertures, and fulcrumed on the inner side of the same, for the purpose specified.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals in the presence of two witnesses.

O. PRENTISS JOHNSON. [L. s]

FRED P. OROOKETT. [L. 8.] Witnesses:

S. A. EARL,

OTIS A. EARL. 

